ROGERSVILLE — Jaylinn Owens is full of joy. She plays sports, does TikTok dances, makes good grades, and is a good friend.
Jaylinn has so much joy that she can’t contain it all, so each year she gives it away through Rogersville Gives Back, a fall festival Saturday that raises money to provide holiday gifts to foster kids in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. It’s what her Rogersville community knows her for: her Christmas spirit. This year marks the third annual event.
“I really love helping kids and helping make sure they are safe,” Jaylinn said. “They’ve already been through a lot and I hope this gives them a little happiness.”
Last year, the event spearheaded by Jaylinn and Shoals CASA Director Heather Begley provided presents for 231 local children. Rogersville Gives Back also helps maintain advocacy and support for foster children year-round.
All that started because a little 6-year-old girl saw two children on the road with their mom asking for food, and she decided to help. Jaylinn and her mom, Larah Shelton, got food, took it to the family, and started chatting with them like they were already friends. That kind act led to Jaylinn creating Kids Helping Kids.
“I explained to her about how there are foster children and what the basic process is for those kids,” Larah said. “Next thing I know, here we are, almost six years later and still helping the kids, and her nonprofit has come so far that she is now helping two counties.”
Shoals CASA, Court Appointed Advocates who work directly with the foster children, partnered with Kids Helping Kids and they both have been going strong together.
“I’m really proud of what I did that first year,” Jaylinn said. “It made me feel good to help kids.” This is Jaylinn’s fifth year as the leader of Kids Helping Kids, and she has been working with Shoals CASA since 2021.
That year, Larah said, Kids Helping Kids and Shoals CASA raised more than $25,000, so they decided to go for more in 2022, setting their goal at $50,000. Through hard work and the generous support of the community, they reached that goal.
“It’s been the perfect partnership,” Heather said. “We raise money for Christmas for foster kids, local businesses join in, and everyone has learned about and supports Jaylinn’s mission.
“It is refreshing to be around Jaylinn and her energy and excitement to help others.”
Once the festival ends and all the donations have come in, Jaylinn and Heather will go shopping for the children they serve. Heather said the Town of Rogersville and local schools will also do some of the shopping, something Jaylinn requested because she wants more kids to be involved with helping the ones who need it most.
There’s still time to register to be a vendor or to be involved in the car show. To donate, clicking this link.
For more information, contact Heather Begley at [email protected] or 256-765-0041 ext. 1.
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